Getting Ready For The Finale

DAVIDSON WINS AT RED HILL; ELLIOTT BY 28 OVER THOMAS, 1 TO GO

Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind. emerged from Saturday night's Stoops Freightliner/USAC Sprint race at Sumner, Ill. with a 28-point lead over Kevin Thomas of Danville, Ind. with one race remaining on the 1998 calendar. A total of 87 points are available at the 25th "Sammy Sessions" Memorial at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway October 25.

Derek Davidson of Lafayette, Ind. scored a sensational victory in Saturday night's 30-lap race at the Red Hill Raceway, leading the final 10 laps in his Hannig Construction/Bailey's One Stop Special after a daring pass of Dave Darland. Darland ended up second on the 1/3-mile dirt oval, followed by Brian Tyler Brian Hayden and Turbines, Inc. fast qualifier Elliott. The win was Davidson's second in USAC Sprint racing, having scored his first at Paragon, Ind. during this year's Pennzoil "Indiana Sprint Week" action.

Thomas, whose original mount encountered engine problems during practice, turned in a spirited performance in a car pulled from "display" status in front of the main grandstand just prior to qualifying. He finished sixth after starting near the rear of the 22-car field.

A 33-lap feature event for the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars at Winchester on October 25 accompanies a similar 33-lapper for the USAC National Midgets as the "doubleheader" at the 1/2-mile paved oval concludes the midwestern USAC racing calendar.

Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Point Standings: 1-Tony Elliott-1,861; 2-Kevin Thomas-1,833; 3-Derek Davidson-1,584; 4-Dave Darland-1,389; 5-Tim Cox-1,340; 6-J.J. Yeley-1,259; 7-Jason McCord-1,222; 8-Brian Hayden-1,180; 9-Brian Tyler-1,165; 10-Kevin Doty-1.084.